Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

New Jersey State Troopers were at Delaware Valley High School in Dec. 13 after the school received a bomb threat. Prosecutors announced charges in two bomb threats made this year.
(Express-Times Photo | JIM MIDDLEKAUFF )

The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office has charged the three juveniles with creating a false public alarm for bomb threats made March 13 at and May 1 at Delaware Valley Regional High School and May 15 at Alexandria Middle School, according to a statement from county prosecutor Anthony Kearns III.

Bomb threats made Dec. 13 and Feb. 19 at Del Val and Feb. 13 at Alexandria Middle School remain under investigation. Both schools are in Alexandria Township.

“The Hunterdon County Prosecutor’s Office and the New Jersey State Police do not take any bomb threat or any other kind of threat at a school lightly,” Kearns said in a statement. “Those incidents will be aggressively investigated and those responsible will be prosecuted.”

Along with criminal charges, the students involved in the threats face disciplinary action from the school district, which could include expulsion, according to the prosecutor.

If found guilty, the juveniles charged in connection to the threats face penalties that include community service, probation and restitution for the cost of the emergency response to the incidents, according to Kearns. Parents would be responsible for the costs, and a judge could order restitution, he said.

“The cost of the emergency response could be significant since multiple police agencies, fire and rescue units, and several K-9 units responded to sweep the schools after each bomb threat was received,” Kearns said in a statement. “Also included would be the follow-up investigation in which over 150 interviews have been conducted by detectives.”

In December, officials bused Del Val students home shortly after the bomb threat was received about 2 p.m. and cancelled all after-school activities. On March 13, school administrators found a written bomb threat in a Del Val bathroom and evacuated all students to the school’s football stadium before busing everyone home.

The May 1 bomb threat at Del Val was a threatening message written on a bathroom wall, prompting an evacuation about 1 p.m. The Hunterdon County Democrat previously reported that the threat made reference to the Boston Marathon bombings.

County detectives are still seeking help with the remaining cases and ask anyone with information to contact authorities.

The public can provide anonymous tips by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-321-0010, by visiting crimestoppershunterdon.com or by messaging “HCTIPS” plus your tip to 274637 (CRIMES). Tipsters can also download the free mobile app, “Tipsubmit,” and select Hunterdon County to submit anonymous tips via text messaging.